Train Drawing

Was on a train, thought i would draw people. I loved it, they didn't.

Muscles Morphy

I was away at a funeral for three days this week, and so I didn't complete this for yesterdays hand in date, but its done now, though I cant upload it to my lecturer as I need the animation studio to package it small enough to upload onto the learning space. Still i have done it and I think it turned out nicely.
We basically had to used a Morphy rig (an altered version of the model we used last week) and make him push a box. Simpler than last week, but we got to use IKFK hands which was cool.
I playblasted it from two angles for you. Enjoy:

Morphy is Complete

So after countless fails in the animating, (though it helped me learn some things), and 3 attempts before I packaged it in Adobe Premiere correctly (a horrific program), my Morphy animation is complete. I think he ended up jumping a little fast, but to fix that problem I would have to remake most of the animation which I didn't have time for, so lets pretend Morphy is a super hero who can jump rather fast :] Also, any mistake in the light grey box around the outside are allowed, as that is outside of the frame an audience would see in a film. Enjoy:

Just Another Manic Monday

So yesterday I had another 3D lecture and a Flash one as well. The 3D was awesome, and though I often find Maya challenging at 9am, it wasn't too bad, though i occasionally miss things when Georg goes so fast, but most of it I get. Thinking I may need to get glasses though....  The Flash was fun too, we learnt more about how to use symbols and symbols in symbols and camera pans, and we also learnt basic cut out animation, and I loved it and would have done more at home if i didn't have everything else to do. I got straight down to my storyboarding and 3D assignment when i got home, and got far with the 3D "Morphy" task we were given, but when I watched it back I had slowed the character down significantly and had to delete about 100 frames. So this its the version so far. Still a work in progress, lots more to do, and some kinks to iron out:

So that character there is Morphy a brilliant rig that has been released online. Georg has limited it for us so we don't get lost in sliders and parts of the body to move. Basically have to make him cross the platforms, which is harder than you think, as there is so much that your body does as you jump or move that you don't even notice. Its getting me odd looks from flat mates when i jump from chair to chair in the kitchen.....

i also watched Kung Fu Panda yesterday for our visual presentation, as Freddie suggested we do it and I have nothing against it. Thinking of mentioning how the western world view Asia and the oriental, taking about the use of Chinese art as inspiration for parts of the film and how the settings are all in stereotypical mountainsides with pagodas everywhere full of noodles and dim sum. Also find it interesting that the townspeople in the film are all pigs and duck, which I think are two traditional Chinese meat, because I think beef was from a western influence, though I cannot be sure as researching this proves difficult, all I seem to get is news articles about meat prices dropping in china.

Storyboarding Pirates

I just realised I havent been posting my storyboard project, so I will throw up 6 boards today. We have to draw boards for one of three scripts, so here is the script:

By Simon Daniels, Yuki Hau & Andy Guest

Final Draft, 19.11.2009

EXT. NIGHT

A calm sea and a full moon. The Pirate ship Narwhal is sailing away

from the bay of an island. We can just see a town where several

buildings are on fire.

INTERIOR: THE CAPTAINS QUARTERS.

The Pirate captain is sitting at his desk writing in the Ship’s Log.

The room is filled with all manner of booty.

CAPTAIN TREMAINE (Voiceover – plays over subsequent scenes)

August 13

surprise, so we did. Those landlubbers didn’t stand a chance! We

looted the Mayor’s Hall of all its lovely booty - the mates are a

proud crew indeed! Discovered a cave full o’ doubloons, we did, and

chest after chest of silver, all for the taking. Swiped enough

barrels of rum to keep these hearties happy for months!! We’re loaded

to the gunwhales, we are. The ship is ‘eavy and a-heavin and the lads

are as merry as sand turtles on a full moon night!

Cut to crew on deck night time, dancing and singing sea shanties. One

pirate plays an accordion and another plays a pipe as they sit on

coils of rope. Some pirates form a circle clapping while another

dances a drunken Hornpipe in the centre. He falls over and a hearty

cheer goes up. One pirate hangs by one arm from the rigging, waving a

jug of rum in the other. One pirate chases a monkey, which has stolen

his hat and is jumping along the mast. A parrot flaps around

squawking loudly.

The Captain narrates over the scene on the deck

CAPTAIN (Voiceover)

Just then it happened - came from nowhere she did - the mightiest

storm you’ll ever see in all the Seven Seas!

Thunder claps sound and lighting flashes, with forks dancing about

the mast & sails. Waves crash over the deck. The crew are crying out

and running to their action stations.

The ship is lifted high on a wave and plunges down into the trough.

Waves crash over the deck and wash into the hold where treasure is

piled up.

The Captain comes running out of his quarters and drags himself up

the stairs to the upper deck and the steering wheel. Rain pelting

down, high waves looming on all sides and the ship rocking violently.

CAPTAIN (shouting)

All hands ahoy! Square the main sail! Lower the riggin! (He wrestles

with the wheel) Swing us through, lads or we’ll all be sleeping on

the sea bed with the fishes tonight, so we will!

SAILOR’S VOICES

- The ship’s too heavy in the water, Cap’n!

th 1735: it has been a good ‘ole day. We took the town by

–

She’ll never make it to port!

ZOO TROOP & THE LOST PIRATE TREASURE

More Sync

Thought I would briefly show a sneak peak of another bit of lip syncing that I have decided to attempt. I wanted to try syncing to music, and wanted to do a different style of drawing for it and so busted out my tablet. Its only a work in progress so this is all I have right now, and I had to use myself as a model because nobody wants to pose pulling funny phonetic faces.

Lights, Camera, ACTION!

So today we had our first cinematography lecture, which is pretty much a day long thing, 10 until 4 with a few breaks. The lecturer was Frankie Keung, who a cameraman and film director/cinematographer who has worked with people such as Jackie Chan and John Woo. Its amazing to be able to work with and learn from people who have worked on such big projects on a weekly basis, one of the part of this course that I love.

We learnt all about various shots, and how to use exposure, zoom, aperture etc. It might sound rather basic, but you have to start somewhere right? Besides there was plenty he taught use about cameras and their various films, lenses and components that I didn't know.
We each got to try out the video camera which he brought, though I cant remember what sort of camera it was. I quite quickly got the hang of it, and learnt the basics of using one. He also briefly showed us how to set them up, using the tripod and plane as well. All in all it was a good day, and I look forward to next weeks lecture.